Gospel Project CD

Robert Williams
Worship Director | Christian Saxophonist
Seacoast Church Asheville, NC

What the Critics are Saying:

Rob Tyson
for JesusFreakHideout.com
“Wayne Caparas is an immensely talented songwriter and vocalist… Caparas’ voice is strong and soulful, making an immediate impression on the listener, and the production (by Michael Brown and Bernard Brown) is top notch. The record sounds full, using a wide array of sounds and a variety of musical textures from start to finish… each track has its own sound and personality yet remains part of a singular vision within the project. Lyrically, the record would be labeled as “Worship,” but this is not the stuff of the Sunday morning Tomlin/Redman crowd. These are modern day Psalms; the plea of one man who has walked a long road to find that God has redeemed him, regardless of the writer’s own failings… this is one of the most professional and highest quality independent releases I have heard…”

Mark Weber, Author of Anointed Voices
for ChristianMusicDaily.com
“About twice a year, I discover a new artist for myself who is doing their own thing, which sounds like nothing else everybody else is doing, and this ‘new sound,’ for me, is intoxicating. It’s the kind of passionate, emotionally overwhelming, anointed-and-appointed music that comes along all too rarely these days, and on Wayne Caparas’ “Gospel Project: Songs of Change,” I got that shiver through my soul I desperately long for… the level of professionalism, matched with passion in singing, instrumentation, and melodies, makes for a CD which will be treasured, played over and over, and not thrown out or given away… Anyone who loves passionate music with a groove should get Wayne Caparas’ “Gospel Project: Songs of Change.” This guy is one to watch…”

Ken Wiegman
for AlphaOmegaNews.com
“I think that the quality of writing, lyrically and musically, demonstrates that Wayne Caparas is a uniquely gifted artist on many levels… The CD also features a handful of guest artist including Quiana Parler on “I Belong,” [delivering] an amazing feat of vocal virtuosity…”

Andr’e L. Carter
Editor for Gospel Synergy Magazine and Program Director for Synergy1Radio
GospelSynergy.com
“This is a great project that reaches the soul… I was able to capture many styles including something for the Gospel Jazz Lovers… I wasn’t surprised when I added “Who Do You Say I Am” and “Caterpillar Dreams” into rotation on my radio show and within 48 hours each song generated a 5 star rating from our listeners… I am sure as his music gets out to the Internet Stations many will receive and introduce Wayne’s music to the world. Wayne will share the FRONT COVER of the November Issue of Gospel Synergy Magazine… Gospel Project “Songs of Change” is off the chain!”

Go to the Press page for more.

Much gratitude to Michael Brown, BJ Brown, Quiana Parler, Amber Caparas, Robert Williams, JT, Steven, Lavonte’, Angie, Keema, Jeremy, John, NeckBone, Quentin, Sara, Freddie, Cliff, Keith, Sunn, Darryl, Billy, Vetta, Nona, Clay, Doug, Bruce, Barry, and all the folks at Oasis ~ each of your contributions are invaluable ~ and also to the men and women who have inspired, encouraged, mentored, and held me to the fire in my life as an artist, writer, and ultimately as a man of God including the late Michael Conyers for proving me a songwriter; Kevin Singletary for the yellow room sessions; June Bonner for making me sing; Robert Williams for brilliant artistry and a servant’s heart; Fred Norris for passion and transparency in praise and worship; Tracy Norris for humility and excellence in all life; the late Rabbi Terry Weidberg for his heart of David; Jan Radekopf for her gentle spirit and perfect pitch; Jeremy Boone for his seriously funky vibe and simple faith; Greg Surratt for my baptism of fire and his exceptionally faithful children; Dr. Ron Hamilton for sacrificial service and fatherly wisdom; Tim Head for sheer forgiveness and faith in starting all over; Bishop Brian Moore for extraordinary talents and bold courage in Christ; Dr. Kevin Baird for his profound knowledge of scripture and heart for discipleship; Jason Shields for creative digital genius; Dr. William Maguire for healing gifts and understanding of history; Ralph Wilcox for pointing the way out of my wilderness; Dr. Louis Costa for true kindness and zeal for life; Reginald McQueen for his extreme faith and resurrection power; Dr. Michael Kollar for his Christ-likeness; Johnny Enlow for walking in the supernatural; Steve deGuzman for always reaching beyond; my mom Patty Girl, dad Rally, brother Rally, pop Don, daughter Shnookie, nephew RC, niece Britty, all my family in Christ, and all the pastors, co-laborers, and friends at Legacy, Life Center, JICC, Lighthouse, Cooper River, Seacoast and the church fellowships who have welcomed me into their lives for all the years of music, artistry, growth, love, and service to God in the Spirit through the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Thank You Lord.

Back Story

I was six when my grandpa Martin Doucett let me interview him with my fancy new cassette recorder. He never really had much patience for me, mostly because I was the crybaby of the family, but he was still mourning the sudden passing of Grandma Emma at the age of 53, so I sort of understood. But on this especially sunny day his eyes twinkled when I showed him the recorder, and the smile that broke across his face was a rare and beautiful sight. As we sat on the porch of his Saratoga Street apartment in blue-collar East Boston, I asked a few goofy questions that only a six year old would ask and then excitedly replayed it to hear how our voices sounded together. I was surprised when Grandpa laughed along with me. He didn’t laugh much in those days. It was just the two of us, and for the first time in my life he let me in, and I remember realizing Grandpa kind of liked me. When I again pressed the record button he started whistling a melody, and I was absolutely stunned by what I heard. My father Rolando is a terrific whistler and he sings like a Filipino Elvis, sort of, so I knew skilled whistling when I heard it. But what came from Grandpa’s gently puckered lips seemed impossibly perfect, with sweeping movements and intricate crescendoes that dropped my jaw to the floor. I really shouldn’t have been so surprised, for I had been told Grandpa was once a great violinist, but it never registered until then. In his heyday he played professionally with musical luminaries Paul Whiteman (The King of Jazz) and Arthur Fiedler (Boston Pops) until the Great Depression, then WWII, and then a family of four daughters forced him to put music aside and get a real job. So he became a bartender, and once he put down his violin he never picked it up again. I started to ask him about it, but he deflected me and asked me to replay the tape. When he heard his whistling, he cracked a sage grin, gazed off into the distance and added a light harmony. I had never been around a musician of any sort, so I was awestruck. While the one-man symphony was wowing me, I was actually moved more by the look in his eyes. It was the first time I really studied someone in a transcendent state. I realized that Grandpa had found his way off that porch, and was somehow taking me with him. It was quite a revelation for a six year old, and it was easily the most bittersweet memory of my young life. For that single instance, we were one. I never felt so connected to my Grandpa, nor had I ever felt so loved by him. After gushing over his whistling masterpiece, I struggled to ask if I would ever be able to whistle that way, or sing like my dad, or make music of any sort. His initial response was, “Yes, if you really want to, of course,” but he added a few caveats. Grandpa was a bit of a genius and he spoke to me like I would grasp what he was saying, so I did. His words were too big for a little boy to quote all these years later, but I can paraphrase their substance. He told me that anyone can make music, and though certain talents are genetic or the product of our upbringing, it’s mostly a matter of God’s will. “I believe you will,” he added with a smile, and I smiled too. Then when I asked him if he would ever play the violin again, he stood up, kindly told me to go play with my cousin Michael, and walked to his room. My moment with Grandpa had ended. It was the only time he ever talked to me about music, or about God. I realize now that Grandpa believed he missed God’s will at several turns in his life, and his burden weighed heavy on him. Whenever I spent the night at his house I often spied on him as he knelt at his bedside to pray. He took his time. It was always very intense and personal, and my brother Rally and I dared never make a peep when Grandpa was praying. He was a devout French-Canadian from a long line of professional clergy, yet he seldom if ever attended services. My mom Patricia tells me he was an enigma even to his daughters, but she never doubted his devotion to Christ. For this, I spent my early youth in love with Jesus and in fear of God, and though I went through a decade as an agnostic, my love for Christ never died. In 1998, following a series of minor miracles, revelations, and a few hard falls, I was truly born again as Christ requires of all who believe. I changed, and I regained the wonder of that six year old boy. Now I find myself wanting nothing but time with God and His children, whether on my knees or in the field or on a porch with a song on my lips and my little girl in my sights. For this alone, I believe Grandpa would be proud of me today.

Shortly after that day on the porch, my Grandpa passed away. He was just 66 and left behind much unfinished business, but his life story is a modern parable that opened my eyes when I needed it most. While this album was inspired by God and is in turn my offering back to Him, I also consider it the completion of a work my Grandpa put in motion all those years ago on that sunny day on the porch in East Boston. So I also present this collection in remembrance of the broken man of God, Martin Victor Doucett, who once spent a moment to sow good seed into an insufferable child like me. I have often wished I could remember the tune he whistled that day. But knowing how the human mind works and even more how God uses us for purposes of His own, maybe I do remember it. Maybe it’s one of the melodies you’ll hear in this album. I pray it is, and I pray it meets you where you are, in your own season of change. ~Wayne Caparas